Maritime Biker
By: Captain Steve Happy New Years my
brothers and sisters!
Thankful to see another year and really thankful for this next maritime biker! As a boatman, we take for granted, all of the modern hydraulic and air controlled steering and throttle controls... Thanks to James( J. C.) Cole, they keep getting better... So from all of us in the industry... We appreciate you designing the controls that make our job flow like the water.
J. C. started doing electrical work as a teenager for his dad’ s company. He joined the military at age 20 and worked on electronic surveillance, communication, and navigation systems. After 8 years in the military, he moved back to Houma and got a job with Control General, where he was introduced to the world of maritime.
James started as a service technician, installing and repairing steering systems, propulsion control systems, and machinery alarm systems on OSV’ s and tugs. Within a few years he worked his way into engineering and has been designing systems since. He has designed systems for a variety of companies like Control General, MarineOne, Abney Electric, EMI, Sentinel Controls, and Beier Integrated Systems. James has visited over 30 countries and 42 of the 50 states including Alaska and Hawaii. He even worked in a few US territories like Guam, Puerto Rico, and Barbados. Needless to say, all that travel kept him off of the road most of the time.
He rode bikes off and on throughout his
life but never Harley’ s. In 2012, he ruptured 3 discs in his back and bought his first Harley on the same day. He couldn’ t walk but he was itching to ride. The first Harley was a 2012 Softtail Blackline. He quit traveling for work and finally had time to enjoy the things he had missed for so long. He upgraded the Blackline to Stage IV. It had a ton of power and was a blast for playing around town but it beat him up too much for any kind of road trips.
Traded it for a Heritage Classic. This bike rode like a dream but was as slow as molasses. He started going to rallies and
other events out of state and really began loving the journey, started getting a“ need” to go out and ride and upgraded the Heritage for a 2013 CVO Road King... He finally found the bike that was him... It has a smooth ride like the Heritage but also has plenty of power with the 110. It wasn’ t like the Stage IV power. The Stage IV bike was violent power like a’ 69 Chevelle with a blown 454. The CVO was more like Corvette power. It’ s there when you need but it comes on smooth and glides you up to where you want to be. Riding to him is the best therapy there is. As he rides, the stress of life melts away as the miles go by. He becomes one with the machine as though he is another piece of the bike..( As do we all)... So there’ s J. C.’ s story... Tell us yours... If you would like to be featured as one of our next“ Maritme Bikers”, then email your info to: captstevetrmla @ fmail. com..
Till next month.... Life’ s a hitch so keep the shiny side up and the thunder rolling....
10 January 2017 THUNDER ROADS MAGAZINE LOUISIANA WWW. THUNDERROADSLOUISIANA. ORG